Their house has been completely renovated, and the words that repeatedly emanated from Charlene Adam’s mouth late Monday afternoon were “wow,” “beautiful” and “amazing.”
She and her family – including hubby Chris, and children Amanda, Michael, Johnny, and Brad – were at her side as they toured their two-storey Aldergrove home after a 15-day renovation project by the Church in the Valley’s Acts of Kindness ministry.
“AOK took our house and made it amazing,” Chris told the Langley Advance, immediately after Monday’s tour.
More than 150 volunteers spent the past 15 days retrofitting the Adam’s home. Based on recent health and disability issues for both Charlene and Chris, they were nominated for the AOK’s 15th annual Extreme Home Repair.
It was beyond their imagination, Chris said of all the work that was done in such a short time. He found it difficult to believe he was in his own home – hardly able to recognize it.
“It’s all people giving their time and their effort and they’re donations – which is unbelievable,” he said, choking up several times throughout the tour.
They own their own home, but have been unable to do the necessary renovations to make the house safe for him and to keep up on necessary upgrades since he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a few years back. Charlene subsequently suffered a stroke about a 18 months ago.
Learning of the family’s plight, the AOK team came to the aid.
“I knew that we’re doing stuff, but we didn’t know it was going to be this awesome,” Charlene said, looking around in amazement at all the cosmetic and structural upgrades done inside and outside the home.
“The family was “blown away,” grinned Pastor Michael Dauncey, the AOK coordinator.
“We’ve done something special here,” he added, especially pinpointing adjusting to the house that enable Chris to get around better.
“We’ve really tried our best to make this house more livable for the Adam family and they’re thrilled,” Dauncey added.
Charlene nodded feverishly in agreement.
“They touched every inch of this place and improved it 10-fold, or a trillion fold. I don’t know…” Charlene said, still unable to take in all the work that had been done.
“I’m going to be looking at new things forever,” she shared, stepping into her new dining room and kitchen for the first time.
“This was a great success, just to see the smiles on Charlene and Chris’ faces, and to see the appreciation and relief is very rewarding,” Dauncey interjected.
“What a day it’s been,” he added. “We’ve been working on this house for 15 construction days and it is now completed… I alway sleep well after the last night, because all the stress melts away. I will rest well tonight. It’s done.”
“It makes a big difference for them,” said Kotanko, who headed up renovations for the exterior portion of the house. He noted that he paid his way through university by working for a siding company, and said he’s now able to put those skills to good use helping out with the AOK efforts.
With three kids still living at home, Charlene and Chris will likely be living in their home for many years to come, Kotanko said. Investing in this project, he insisted, was a way to invest in their family and their future.
“They really need this.”
Brian Smith has been lending a hand with AOK’s home repair projects for the past six years, and was proud to be involved – alongside his wife Diane – with the Adam reno.
They were on hand to help the family move out their furniture and personal effects at the beginning, and the Smiths were tired be elated to be there as they came home for Monday’s reveal.
“I’ve done a bit of everything,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the completely restored house. “They ask me to do something and it gets done.”
This time out, however, his volunteer efforts were interrupted for a week, when he travelled to Jamaica for his son’s wedding. But returning Sunday, and despite some jet lag, Smith was there to contribute to the last day’s efforts.
It’s the camaraderie and the actual reveal that Smith said are his favourite parts of any AOK Extreme Home Repair projects.
“It’s just an amazing, amazing program,” Smith said. “It’s just a very heartwarming feeling giving back to the community – to someone who needs it. That’s why I do it… To me, this is fun and rewarding.”
God willing, Smith said, he’ll be back again next year, to do it all over again – but rumour has it, one of his other boys is planning a wedding for the same time – which he jokes might require some rescheduling.
